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PHOENIX – Infected mosquitos and birds will bring the sometimes-fatal West Nile virus into Arizona within the year, and the virus will be coast-to-coast by the end of next summer, state health officials say. But they add that the chances of getting sick from the virus are low. 

“You can’t stop it,” said Craig Levy, director of the state Department of Health’s vector-borne disease control program. “You might as well try to stop the wind. It’s coming.” 

He said officials may see cases in Arizona even before this year ends, depending on how fast the virus moves. It has now moved as far west as Texas, Oklahoma, Nebraska and the Dakotas. To date, the virus has appeared in 34 states and Washington, D.C. 

But Levy said there is no reason to panic. 

Two viruses very similar to West Nile — St. Louis encephalitis and western equine encephalitis — are already present in Arizona, and Levy said a health crisis has yet to break out. 

“West Nile worries people for the same reason a lot of things panic people,” Levy said. “It’s new, and because it’s new and exotic, it’s scary. ... Take it seriously, but do not lose sleep about it.” 

West Nile virus forms in the bodies of birds. Mosquitos get the virus from the infected birds and then transmit it to whatever they feed on next. 

The virus can cause encephalitis, which inflames the brain and other parts of the central nervous system. Symptoms may include fever, headache, stiff neck, lethargy, disorientation, muscle tremors or weakness and coma. 

Levy said it was difficult for mosquitos to pass the disease on to humans. Even if someone is bitten by a mosquito carrying West Nile virus, the odds of that person developing encephalitis are less than 1 percent, he said. 

“The vast majority of people will either have mild symptoms or no symptoms, and they’ll never know they had it,” he said. 

Health officials are testing mosquitos, dead birds, horses and humans for the virus. 

Also, about 150 sentinel chickens are used by Arizona state and county health departments as test animals for viruses carried by mosquitos. The chickens are not harmed by the viruses. 

“They’re like the canaries they used to send into the coal mines to test for poisons,” said Laura Devany, spokeswoman for Maricopa County Environmental Services Department. “They’re an early warning sign.” 

The best way to guard against infection is to avoid getting bit by mosquitos. Officials said to wear loose fitting clothes, use mosquito spray, try to stay indoors after sunset and empty any standing water near homes. 

“Your odds of getting West Nile encephalitis from one or two mosquito bites are extraordinarily low,” Levy said. “People should not panic, but they should take measures to minimize mosquito bites.”